Do I Enter A Signer’s Address In My Notary Journal Entry?

Hello. Under GC 8206[a] a CA Notary's journal entry must include: • Date, time and type of each official act; • Character (type or title) of every document sworn to, affirmed, acknowledged or proved before the Notary; • Signature of each person whose signature is notarized, including the signature of any subscribing witness and the mark of a signer; • Statement regarding the type of satisfactory evidence relied on to identify the signer; • Fee charged for the notarial act or, if no fee was charged, “No Fee” or “0”; • If document is a power of attorney, deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust or other document affecting real property, the right thumbprint (or any other available print) of the signer.

Thanks!

I fill out all boxes in the journal, required or not. I also put the address on their ID and the one that is current or where they actually live. In additional notes section, I note the names of anyone who attended the signing, the escrow officers name and company and escrow #, and sometimes the lender and loan # and any questions they had, who they contacted about it. I make an entry for every document for every signer individually, they sign and thumbprint for each document. WHY? Because after 36 years of being a notary, I have been roped in on several court cases, sued but not found guilty of anything ever, but had to pay a lot of $ each time. When your notarizations are questioned by a court, a judge, in depositions, and you are on the stand, you better know all about what you did and didn't do and be able to show you exercised diligence and took every measure to show you are beyond reproach. Think it will never happen to you? Keep notarizing. And keep in mind that a $100,000 E&O policy only covers $10,000 of legal fees, and that as a notary you have UNLIMITED LIABILITY. Think about that then next time you accept a low ball offer.